February, 2010

As Far as We Go for As Long As We Go


Little did we know that this journey from Mazatlan back to LaPaz would be our last together. The seams of the relationship were straining and Biagio and I decided to part company and individually look for more compatible sailing partners. As a sailing friend of mine said, ‘Life happens’. We shared a wonderful journey down the West Coast and into the Sea of Cortez and ‘si Dios quiere’ or God willing, there will be many more wonderful journeys to come for both of us.

January, 2010

Surfers in LaVentana

LaVentana is a known wind & kite surfing area about 1 ½ hrs. outside of LaPaz.  If there is wind, it’s usually very good conditions here for kite surfing.  We rented a car and drove the distance to watch the show.  It seemed like there was at least 100 of them flying.  It was mesmerizing.  I expected to see mostly young men in their 20’s and 30’s but surprisingly, many of them looked much older than me.  So this is where many older surfer dudes go!  And there were even a few younger surfer dudettes.

January 2, 2010

Happy New Year!

The beach and marina at El Cid in Mazatlan.  We are just around the corner from the hotel in the photo below.  Swimming pools and jacuzzi...life is good.  Below that is a panorama view of the area beaches from the light house.  It was a 30 minute walk up a path and stairs to arrive.

So many great friends we have spent time with over the holidays.  It feels like we have become family and a little sad to move on.  We always hope that we'll see them farther down the line or another year.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas Time in Mazatlan

Marina El Cid in Mazatlan. Notice the marlin fish hanging by the tail. The catch and release program isn't as popular here as it is in Cabo San Lucas.

Final preparations for a children's Christmas performance raising funds for their 'home away from home'. Their performances provide money for their group home where they receive an education, dental care, food, clothing, and more options for their future. Many of them live in shanty houses. They are dropped off to their parent(s) in the late evening.  

Below, the market with all the Christmas Pinatas ready to be filled with candy.

 

This Christmas tree in one of the main plazas is made with coke bottles filled with colored water. We would watch people admire it from a distance and then come up to inspect the bottles.  It was impressive.

Feliz Navidad Y Ano Nuevo a todos!

 

 

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Bahia de Los Muertos

 A three day stop on the way to Mazatlan to Bahia de los Muertos. It's peaceful, serene, and it even has a small, private resort with a swimming pool and great food.

Back in the cactus again. We feel very small next to these 500 year old giants.

Getting into the mood with Christmas decorations and lots of Christmas music.

The surroundings of the small 14 room resort are so beautiful, it seems surreal. We can dinghy in or walk around from on the sandy beach for a margarita or lunch.

The train bar and game room. Entertainment and food.

Aaaahhhhhh................

December 08, 2009

Back to the Boat

Biagio came back to Gem in November.  While we were gone, hurricane Jimena visited Guaymas dumping over 40 inches of rain within a 24 hr. time period.  Our sun screens from the outside windows where they well tied down but missing.  The overall sun covers were all taken off by the marina staff expecting to save them from being shredded.  Other than that, nothing was damaged.

Biagio sailed from Guaymas on the land side back down to LaPaz on the Baja California peninsula side. I flew in to Cabo with 4 suitcases mostly full of things for the boat...sail tape, motors, parts, sunbrella fabric, fishing lures, and an Xbox.     

  Did you know it takes an Xbox to sail???!!??? That's what Biagio told me. It took up a whole smaller suitcase.    I was fortunate to get picked up in a REAL CAR at the airport. Liz and Michael drove down with their car from Seattle so Michael and Biagio drove the 3 1/2 hr. one way trip to pick me up. So nice....  

As far as being back on the boat, it was like I had never been on the boat before...only seen a lot of photos of it. It was VERY surreal. And I didn't have any sea legs at all. (Six months off the boat.) I felt like every time I would get in or out of the dinghy I was likely to fall in. Couldn't remember how to drive the dinghy or start it at all, I'm still looking for switches to turn things on and off, etc. So strange..... But I'm getting used to it and staying dry.  

Photos of Christmas time in Seattle before leaving for LaPaz.

 

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Back In the Saddle Again

After bottom painting and lots of work, Gem slides back into the water in Guaymas (Western land side of Mexico). Then it's a 1 1/2 day motor/sail to LaPaz (Southern Baja California) with fishing stops in between to meet up with friends before heading south and destinations unknown.

June, July, August, Sepember, October...uh oh...

....it's getting cold here
in the Northwest.
Enough of this house fixing and promoting condos. Time to head south.

New Faces

Proud Grandpa with Kai in Victoria. Parents Jesse and Tia are surely not far away.

Location - Clarification

Just wanted to let everyone know why we ended up in Guaymas. (Location is about a 10 hr. bus ride north of Mazatlan if you know where that is.)

These were the ingredients for the outcome:

1. The cruising area of the Baja Penninsula is so beautiful in the Sea of Cortez side and it takes about 3 months to see it all. (Feb-June)

2. The boat needed bottom paint and Mexico is a good place to do that.

3. The boat needs to be out of the water for about a month in the desert while the blisters dry out.

4. The boat needs work which Biagio will do once the summer isn't so hot...probably in mid October when the temps go down from 140 degrees!

5. Once the water gets to about 80 degrees, hurricane season starts. Therefore the boat needs to stay at the lattitude of about Guaymas or further north to avoid damage.

For all these reason, Guaymas is as far as the boat went. It was all perfect.